Soil formulation for resisting erosion

Abstract

Compositions and method for resisting soil erosion. The compositions comprise either an aqueous mixture of a polymer mixed with an organic material or, alternatively, a polymer and organic material that can be mixed in water. The polymer preferably comprises polyacrylamide having anionic functional groups and the organic base comprises either cellulose, mulch and/or seed and mulch. The methods of the present invention comprise providing or forming an aqueous mixture of the compositions of the present invention and applying them to an area of land sought to be provided with soil erosion resistance.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for reducing soil erosion from an area of land comprising the steps: 
       a) providing a copolymer of linear polyacrylamide and sodium acrylate;  
       b) providing an organic material selected from the group consisting of paper mulch, wood fiber mulch, and cellulose;  
       c) providing approximately 3000 gallons of water;  
       d) mixing said water in step c) with said copolymer in step a) to form a first admixture;  
       e) mixing the admixture of step d) with said organic material in step b) such that the copolymer is present in an amount from 0.25% to 5.00% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material, said organic material weighting at least 1000 pounds; and  
       f) applying said admixture in step e) to approximately one acre of land, said land having a slope gradient ranging from 6:1 to 1:1.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein in step e), said copolymer is present in an amount from 0.25% to 1.25% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein in step b), said organic material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose and mulch. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein said mulch is selected from the group consisting of paper mulch and wood fiber mulch. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein in said step f) is accomplished via a hydroseeder. 
     
     
       6. A method for reducing soil erosion from an area of land comprising the steps: 
       a) providing a copolymer consisting of linear polyacrylamide polymer and sodium acrylate;  
       b) providing an organic material selected from a group consisting of paper mulch, wood fiber mulch, and cellulose;  
       c) providing approximately 3000 gallons water;  
       d) mixing said water in step c) with said copolymer in step a) to form a first admixture;  
       e) mixing the admixture of step d) with said organic matter in step b) such that a second admixture is formed wherein:  
       i) said copolymer is present in an amount from 025% to 1.25% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material; and  
       ii) the weight of the organic material ranges from approximately 1000 pounds to one ton; and  
       f) applying said admixture in step e) to an area of land having a size ranging from one-half acre to one acre.  
     
     
       7. A method for reducing soil erosion from an area of land comprising the steps: 
       a) providing a copolymer consisting of linear polyacrylamide and sodium acrylate;  
       b providing an organic material selected from a group consisting of paper mulch, wood fiber mulch, and cellulose;  
       c) providing water;  
       d) mixing said water with said copolymer in step a) and;  
       said organic matter in step b) such that an admixture is formed wherein:  
       i) said copolymer is present in an amount between 0.25% and 1.25% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material, said organic material weighing at least 800 pounds; and  
       ii) the ratio of water to the combined weight of the copolymer and organic material ranges from at least approximately 802 pounds to one ton of copolymer and organic material per 3,000 gallons of water; and  
       e) applying said admixture in step e) to an area of land having a size of approximately one acre.  
     
     
       8. A method for reducing soil erosion from an area of land comprising the steps: 
       a) providing a linear polyacrylamide polymer;  
       b) providing an organic material selected from a group consisting of paper mulch, wood fiber milch, and cellulose;  
       c) providing approximately 3000 gallons of water;  
       d) mixing said water in step c) with said polymer in step a) to form a first admixture;  
       e) mixing the admixture of step d) with said organic matter in step b) such that a second admixture is formed:  
       wherein said polymer is present in an amount from 0.25% to 5.00% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material, said organic material weighing between at least 1000 to 2000 pounds; and  
       f) applying said admixture in step e) to an area of land having a size ranging from one-half acre to one acre.  
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 2  wherein in step e), said organic material weighs between 1,000 pounds and one ton. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 5:1 to 1:5:1. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 4:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein in step e), said organic material weighs between 1200 pounds to one ton. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein in step e), said organic material weighs between 1200 pounds and 1500 pounds; and wherein in step f), said slope gradient is approximately 3:1. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  wherein in step e), said organic material weighs between 1500 pounds and one ton and wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges between 2:1 to 1.5:1. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 6  wherein in step f), said area of land has a slope gradient ranging from 6:1 to 1:1. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein in step e), (ii), said organic material weighs between 1000 pounds to 1200 pounds; and wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges form 5:1 to 4:1. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15  wherein in step e),(ii), said organic material weighs between 1000 pounds to 1500 pounds; and wherein in step f), said slope gradient from 4:1 to 3:1. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15  wherein in step e), (ii), said organic material weighs between 1200 pounds to one ton; and wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 4:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18  wherein in step e), (ii), said organic material weighs between 1200 pounds and 1500 pounds. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 3:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18  wherein in step e), (ii), said organic material weighs between 1500 pounds to one ton; and wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 3:1 to 1.5:1. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 7  wherein in step d), (i), said organic material weighs at least 1000 pounds; and wherein in step d), (ii), the combined weight of the copolymer and organic material ranges from at least approximately 1002.5 pounds to one ton. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  wherein in step e), said area of land has a slope gradient ranging from 6:1 to 1.5:1. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23  wherein in step e), said slope gradient ranges from 5:1 to 1:5:1. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24  wherein in step e), said slope gradient ranges from 4:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  wherein in step d), (i), the combined weight of the copolymer and organic material ranges from at least approximately 1002.5 to 1503.75 pounds. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26  wherein in step d), (i), the combined weight of the copolymer and organic material ranges from at least 1203 to 1503.75 pounds. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27  wherein in step e), said slope gradient ranges from 4:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28  wherein in step e), said slope gradient ranges from 3:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 22  wherein in step d), said water is mixed with said copolymer before being mixed with said organic material. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 23  wherein in step d), said water is mixed with said copolymer before being mixed with said organic material. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 24  wherein in step d), said water is mixed with said copolymer before being mixed with said organic material. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 24  wherein in step d), said water is mixed with said copolymer before being mixed with said organic material. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 25  wherein in step d), said water is mixed with said copolymer before being mixed with said organic material. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 26  wherein in step d), said water is mixed with said copolymer before being mixed with said organic material. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 27  wherein in step d), said water is mixed with said copolymer before being mixed with said organic material. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 8  wherein in step c), said polymer is present in an amount from 1.25 percent to 5.00 percent by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 8  wherein in step e), said polymer is present in an amount from 0.25 percent to 1.25 percent by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer end said organic material. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 8  wherein in step f), said area of land has a gradient ranging from 6:1 to 1:1. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 39  wherein in step e), said organic material weighs between 1500 pounds to one ton and said gradient ranges from 3:1 to 1.5:1. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 40  wherein in step f), said gradient ranges from 3:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41  wherein in step e), said organic material weighs between 1200 and 1500 pounds; and wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 4:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 42  wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 4:1 to 3:1. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 42  wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 3:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 8  wherein in step e), said organic material weighs between 1000 to 1200 pounds; and wherein in step f), said area of land has a slope gradient ranging from 6:1 to 4:1. 
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 45  wherein in step f), said slope gradient ranges from 5:1 to 4:1. 
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 46  wherein in step f), said slope gradient is 4:1.